The invitation from the PSDB party to Barbosa is for the government of Minas Gerais.
The biggest surprise of the 2014 elections could indeed be the candidacy of the president of the Supreme Federal Court, Joaquim Barbosa. But not for the presidency of the Republic, as had been speculated, nor as vice-president to Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG). The invitation extended to him at the ceremony of the Grand Collar of the Inconfidência, in Ouro Preto, last Sunday, concerns the Palácio da Liberdade (Governor's Palace); will the media-savvy Barbosa, who today fears the review of the judgment of Criminal Action 470, succumb to the temptation of this political maneuver?
247 - A bombshell piece of information is beginning to be whispered in Minas Gerais political circles: that the president of the Supreme Federal Court, Joaquim Barbosa, was indeed invited by Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG) and Governor Antonio Anastasia, also a member of the PSDB party, to enter politics. But not as Aécio's running mate, as had been speculated. The surprising news is something else. If he is willing to trade his judicial robes for the political stage, the native of Paracatu (MG), who last Sunday received the Grand Collar of the Inconfidência, the highest honor in Minas Gerais, in Ouro Preto, will have the support of Aécio and Anastasia to run for the Palácio da Liberdade (Governor's Palace).
With this move, Aécio could associate his image with that of a figure who, although controversial, still enjoys considerable popularity among various sectors of society. Last weekend, columnist Elio Gaspari stated that Barbosa could leave the Judiciary, posing as a hero, if the results of Criminal Action 470 are reviewed – a scenario that is becoming increasingly likely at this stage of the appeals process.
Gaspari considered a presidential candidacy, while Claudio Humberto reported that Barbosa could be Aécio's running mate. But this possibility was ruled out by Anastasia himself in an interview with 247. According to him, Aécio should seek a ticket that is more regionally inclusive – and it wouldn't make sense to have two politicians from Minas Gerais, one from São João del Rey and the other from Paracatu, on the same ticket.
Locally, the PSDB, which is already in its third consecutive term in Minas Gerais (two with Aécio and one with Anastasia, who is not eligible for reelection because he took office earlier), does not have a natural candidate. The names of Vice-Governor Alberto Pinto Coelho, from the PP party, and also Congressman Marcus Pestana (PSDB-MG) were considered. Joaquim Barbosa, however, is being considered the option with the greatest potential, supposedly representing the "new" – a label that Aécio also intends to have in his national campaign.